Details for Rossnowlagh Twelfth

The rolling hills of County Donegal and a magnificent coastline provide the backdrop to what must surely be the most attractive setting for any Orange parade.

The annual Twelfth parade in Rossnowlagh, will be held on Saturday, July 11, two days before the demonstrations in Northern Ireland.

Fifty lodges from Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan, as well as visiting Orangemen, joined by approximately 30 bands, will take part in the parade which begins close to St. John’s Parish Church at 12.30pm.

The parade then makes its way down a narrow country road, thronged with onlookers, to the demonstration field, on the edge of the shoreline. Among the spectators will be many holidaymakers staying in the various caravan parks located in the seaside resort.

A religious service, only yards from the sprawling beach and the rolling breakers of the Atlantic Ocean, will be held at 3pm. The service will be conducted by the local Church of Ireland minister Rev Brian Russell.

The guest speaker will be the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Harold Henning. He will be joined on the platform by the County Donegal Grand Master David Mahon and other senior brethren.

Among the lodges on parade will be Donegal Orangemen from both Convoy and Newtowncunningham. Since the last Twelfth in Rossnowlagh, their respective Orange halls were both destroyed in arson attacks.

Also stepping out for their first Twelfth parade will be the members of Convoy Pipe Band. They will join with a variety of bands, including other pipe, accordion, brass and flute on procession.